BENNO BECOMES ACADEMY GK COACH

2 July 2014

David Threlfall-Sykes

Ian returns to ‘The Yorkshire Club’

Ian Bennett has returned to Huddersfield Town as the Club’s Lead Academy Goalkeeping Coach.

The 42 year-old spent four years as a goalkeeper at Town after joining on a free transfer in the summer of 2010, making a total of 74 appearances over four seasons as the Club gained promotion to the Sky Bet Championship.

With over 550 domestic appearances at the highest levels of English football, ‘Benno’ also played his part in the development of Town’s 24 year-old Alex Smithies.

Ian’s playing contract expired at the end of the 2013/14 season, but having completing his coaching qualifications during the final years of his playing career he will now become the Club as Lead Academy Goalkeeping Coach.

In this new role, Ian will primarily focus his work on the Academy players in the Youth Development Phase (12 to 16 year-olds) and Professional Development Phase (16-18 year-olds).

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Huddersfield Town’s Chief Executive Nigel Clibbens commented:

“Ian knows how Huddersfield Town operates and his ambition to be a success as a coach will fit right in with the ethos of his fellow technical staff in the Academy and the rest of the Club.

“He is an incredibly knowledgeable man who we know and all respect; he has been of immense benefit to the senior goalkeepers that have trained alongside him during his four years playing here and we’re delighted we are keeping him at the Club.

“Coaching young footballers in an Academy is a specialised job, but we know Ian’s personality and style is one that will fit this role perfectly.

“This move is very similar to the one that our new Head of Goalkeeping Nick Colgan took when he brought his playing days to a close and it is excellent that Ian can continue to work and seek advice from Nick, as they will work closely together.”